PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Mendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jared Odrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jared Odrick has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mendez
vs
Odrick

200 cm
24
275 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

193 cm
23
280 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Mendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jared Odrick!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odrick throws a jab when Mendez was well out of range.

Odrick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Odrick is in close to Mendez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Odrick throws and elbow that misses. Mendez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Odrick's guard. Nice move by Mendez!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendez looking to pass the guard.
Mendez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Odrick trying to control the position.
Odrick manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mendez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mendez regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez controlling the position well.
Odrick working over Mendez with some ground and pound. Mendez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mendez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Odrick throwing strikes but missing.
Mendez trying to control the position.
Odrick wants to control from the top but Mendez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mendez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mendez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mendez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Mendez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Odrick has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Odrick!
Odrick thows a big elbow that misses.
Mendez pulls Odrick in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odrick seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mendez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mendez is trying to control the position but Odrick postures up.
Odrick landing with the ground and pound.
Odrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Odrick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mendez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Odrick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mendez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendez looking for a sweep. Not yet Mendez, not yet.
Mendez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Mendez trying to control the position.
Odrick is looking to work some ground and pound but Mendez has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tony Mendez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mendez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendez misses with a wild body shot.
Mendez tries to clinch up but Odrick circles away and keeps his distance.
Mendez looks to land a combination but Odrick avoids it well.
Mendez with a poor takedown
enabling Odrick to counter with a crisp jab.
Mendez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Odrick circles away quickly and effectively.
Mendez misses with a double jab
and Odrick connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tony Mendez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Odrick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mendez misses with a combination

and Odrick counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mendez wants to get back to full guard.
Mendez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Odrick.
Mendez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Odrick throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Odrick wants to pass the guard but Mendez is keeping the position.
Odrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mendez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mendez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Jared Odrick has been cut.
Mendez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Odrick counters with a single leg into guard. Mendez didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Odrick looking to sit in guard and control but Mendez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is in close to Odrick's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Odrick is pulling down on Mendez's head to control his posture.
Odrick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.
Odrick tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendez throws and elbow that misses. Odrick uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mendez's guard. Nice move by Odrick!
Mendez keeping moving, preventing Odrick from controlling successfully.
Mendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Mendez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Odrick is now in Mendez's guard. A big mistake from Mendez there, giving up the dominant position!

Odrick drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mendez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Odrick has Mendez in his guard.
Odrick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mendez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odrick has momentary wrist control but Mendez slips an elbow through the middle.
Mendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Odrick is retaining full guard.
Mendez throws a strike but Odrick rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mendez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Odrick avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mendez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Odrick is bucking up trying to escape but Mendez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Odrick wants to control but Mendez is having none of it.
Mendez punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Mendez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jared Odrick's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A jab-cross combination lands for Mendez and sends Odrick crashing to the mat! Mendez follows him down to the mat - Odrick regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Odrick is rocked!

Mendez is working for a kimura but Odrick is defending it quite comfortably.

Mendez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Odrick doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mendez.
Odrick blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Tony Mendez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mendez throwing shots but Odrick is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Odrick blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mendez.
Mendez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Odrick defending well though.
Mendez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Odrick knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Odrick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mendez falls off balance throwing a combination

so Odrick counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Odrick throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Odrick looking to pass the guard.
Mendez controlling Odrick's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Odrick is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mendez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mendez with the ground and pound but Odrick uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Odrick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Odrick keeping full guard, as Mendez tries to pass.
Mendez works over Odrick with some ground and pound from guard.
Jared Odrick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mendez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Odrick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mendez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Odrick keeping full guard, as Mendez tries to pass.
Tony Mendez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendez looking to sit in guard and control but Odrick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mendez looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Odrick misses the shot to the body.
Mendez misses with the combination.
Mendez misses with a head kick.
Mendez throws a combination that misses
and Odrick counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mendez thinking.
Odrick thows a body shot but no joy.
Odrick misses with a looping right.
Odrick keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Odrick misses with a wild body shot.
Mendez misses with a straight left.
Mendez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Odrick counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendez is holding on to half guard well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Mendez.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mendez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tony Mendez!